Slicing machine with friction driven stacker



Oct. 16, 1934.

w. A. VAN BERKEL SLICING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVEN STACKER Filed Oct. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l fi w a,

Oct. 16, 1934. w VAN BERKEL 1,976,864

SLICING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVEN STACKER Filed Oct. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \SKB 7 1934- w. A. VAN BERKEL SLICING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVEN STACKER Filed Oct. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 16, 1934. 7 w V 'BERKEL 1,976,864

SLICING MACHINE WITH FRICTION DRIVEN STACKER Filed Oct. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 16, 1934 Wilhelrnus Adrianus van Berkel, Clarens, Montreux, Switzerland, assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, End, a corporation of Indiana Application October 14, 1931, Serial No. 558,719 In Germany ()ctober 16, 1930 Claims.

' vided with a stacking means for stacking the slices as they are formed. This means comprises ;in general a rotating drum provided with a series of prongs adapted to engage the slice as it is cut by the knife and convey the slice to a position in which the slice is discharged from the drum. The discharging means is a fly which engages the under side of the slice and moves the slice oi? the prong when the drum reaches a predetermined position.

This general arrangement is shown and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 547,409 on Slicing machine stackers, filed June 27, 1932. In that application as in this application, the table is driven by a crank and pitman connection. This arrangement imparts a non-uniform movement to the table. However, the drum which conveys the slices away after they are formed is driven at a constant speed and therefore unless some means is provided to compensate for the difference in speed between the ends of the prongs on the drum, and the speed of the table and slice as the slice is being formed, elongated holes will be torn in the slice thus rendering the appearance thereof unsightly and impairing its sale value. In my co-pending application, provision is made for permitting the rotary drum to be retarded against the action of a yieldin means and the slice as it is formed retards the movement of the drum so that the drum moves at substantially the same speed as the slice while the slice is being impaled upon the prongs. As soon as the slice has been picked up by the prongs, the yielding means causes an accelerated movement of the drum until the yielding means has fully acted, and thereafter the driving means for the drum causes a continuous movement of the drum until the next slice is to be conveyed away from the knife.

When the slice itself is used to retard the movement of the drum there is also a tendency for holes to be torn in the slice and therefore the present invention has for one of its objects the provision for an independent means for retard ing the movement of the drum during the time the slice is being impaled upon the prongs, thereby relieving the slice of substantially al tension.

A further object of this invention is to provide a positive or substantially positive driving means for driving the conveyer drum or in effect retarding the conveyer drum as the slice is being impaled upon the prongs.

More specifically, my invention contemplates using a brake of the friction type which is moving at substantially the same speed as the table and adjacent the path of travel of a portion of the periphery the drum so as to cause a braking effect on the drum, which only retards the movemerit of the drum. sufi'iciently to cause the same to be moving at the same speed as the table during the severing of the slice after which the drum, as in my cc-pending application, accelerates its movement to make up for the amount it was retarded during the severing of the slice.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a continuous cable attached at both ends to the sl cing machine table and train the same over a series of pulleys with at least one run of the cable arranged in a position to engage a portion of the drum for the purposes set forth in the preceding paragraphs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fly which assists the stacking by preventing a sliding movement of the slices over the fly as the fiy is moved into its discharge position, and also preventing the slice from adhering to the fly due to the stickiness of the material which is being out. In other words since the fiy moves in an arcuate path. there is a tendency for the slices to slide in a radial direction as the fly moves about its pivot. This action is resisted by the improved fingers on the fly. So.

More specifically my invention contemplates the provision of relatively sharp but blunt points or prongs or projections on the fingers of the fiy which form restr'cted contact portions which prevent the outward movement of the slices and as a r sult assist in the correct stacking of the slices.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of adjustable bracket for holding the slice receiving plate in position.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying my invention, parts of the complete machine shown in my co-pending application being removed for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the manner in which the stacking is accomplished.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pulley arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a simplified form of machine in which my novel form of fly is used.

Fig. 7 is an elevational View of a modification of the view in Fig. 6 showing the position to which the discharge fly is moved when discharging the slice.

8 is an elevational view of the front of a fly.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a modified arrangement of a fly in vertical cross section and plan respectively, and,

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the cam used for actuating the fly.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the reference numeral 1 indicates a base which is provided with feet 2, and this base is adapted to support the operative parts of the slicing machine. The base is provided with a bracket 3, having a bearing 4, for rotatably supporting a knife 5, which has a spindle 9, arranged to rotate in the bearing 4. This knife as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is driven from a shaft 6, by means of a chain 7, trained over a sprocket 8, on the knife spindle 9, and a sprocket 10 on the shaft 6. The shaft 6 has a bevel gear 11 meshing with a bevel gear 12 on a short stub shaft 13, extending through the upper surface of the base. A main drive shaft 14, having a fly wheel 15, and handle 16 as in the usual construction of these machines, has a bevel gear 1'7 also meshing with the bevel gear 12. By rotating the shaft 14, by means of the handle 16, rotative movement is imparted to the knife in a manner which is well known.

On the knife side of the base there is provided a bracket designated generally by the reference numeral 18, which has a shaft 19, rotatably mounted in a bearing 20. To the lower end of the shaft there is secured a sprocket 21, having a chain 22, trained thereover and over a sprocket 23, secured to a shaft 24, rotatably supported by a bracket 25, to one of the sides of the base and within the base as is best illustrated in Fig. 3. The shaft 24 is also provided with a bevel gear 26, secured thereto and meshing with a bevel gear 27, on the shaft 14. A tensioning pulley 27, on a pivoted arm 28, is yieldingly urged against one run of the chain 22, by a spring 29. As the shaft 14 is rotated, the shaft 19 will in turn be rotated by means of the gears 26 and 27, shaft 24, sprocket 23, chain 22, and sprocket 21. The shaft 19 carries a segmental portion 30, which I will hereinafter refer to as a drum, since the outer surface is substantially a portion of the surface of a drum, and the drum has the horizontally extending web portions 31 arranged about the shaft .19, the lower web portion 31 embracing a sleeve 32 and being secured thereto in a manner which is more clearly set forth in my co-pending application.

A cam 33, secured to the shaft 19, is provided with a cam surface 34 adapted to engage the roller 35, carried by an arm 36, on an extension 37 of the arm 38, which carries the fly designated generally as 39. The arm 36 may be secured rigidly to the extension 3'? or held yieldingly by a spring 40 as is clearly described inmy co-pending application. The rotation of the cam acting through the connections just described causes the arm 38 to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, from a position such as illustrated in Fig. 7. However, after the rolier 35 leaves the lowest point on the cam and is permitted to travel down the surface 41, parallel to the axis of the shaft 19, the arm 38 is not under the influence of the cam, but rather under the influence of a compression spring 42, arranged within telescoping mcmbers 43 and 44, one end of which is pivotally connected at 45 to the base, and the other end of which is pivotally connected at 46 to the extension 37.

In order to cushion the movement of the fly under the influence of the spring 42, I provide an additional arm or arms 47, pivoted at 48, to the extension 37, and provided with a brake 49' sliding along the vertical braking surface 49. As the brake reaches its uppermost position as illustrated in Fig. 7, the pull on the brake is substantially perpendicular to the vertical braking surface 49, and this causes the cushioning of the movement of the arm 38 as it reaches its outermost position shown in Fig. '7.

The fly is provided with a series of fingers 50, each of which is provided with restricted contact portions 51, which are V shaped in cross section and present relatively sharp, blunt edges to the slice when the slice is engaged thereby. These prongs will be described more in detail later.

The drum is provided with prongs 52, which are relatively long and needle-like, and project substantially in a perpendicular direction from the surface of the drum, although some of the prongs are not perpendicular as is obvious from;

an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A deflector 53, arranged adjacent the cutting edge of the knife deflects the slices onto the prongs and this deflector is provided with a plurality of slots cut therein and extending parallel to the path of movement of the prongs.- The prongs are arranged in horizontal rows and are adapted to pass through the slots as the 30 rotates. The movement of the prongs into the slots in the deflector 53, causes the slices to be impaled upon the prongs so that the rotation of the drum will not cause the slices to be thrown therefrom.

The drum is not directly carried by the shaft 19, but has a yielding connection therewith. This connection is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 in which there is shown an inverted cup-shaped member 54, which is rotatable on the shaft 19, and is provided with a pin 55, which extends through an opening in the lower web 31 of the drum so as to cause the drum to rotate with the member 54. To the under side of the member 54, there is secured a pivot 56, which has a member 57, telescoping in a tubular member 53, in which a spring 59 is arranged. The tubular member 53, in turn is pivoted at 60, to a raised boss 61, on the cam 33. A pin 62, secured to the under side of the member 54 and rotating therewith, is adapted to engage a yielding bumper 63, when the spring 59 is permitted to expand and rotate the member 54, relative to the cam 33. Normally the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, and as the cam 33 is rotated, the drum moves in unison therewith and at the same speed as the shaft 19.

The mechanism so far described is shown clearly in my co-pending application 547,409, and in that application while the slices are being of; I

" hine where it is trained over a pulley 87, jourimpaled on the prongs and are still attached to the substance being sliced, the slices retard the movement of the drum 30, which in turn retards the movement of the member 54, compresses the spring 59, and causes the stop 62 to move away from the yielding bumper 63. However, as stated before, this is a disadvantage in that the prongs tend to tear holes in the slice, especially where the slice is relatively thin and tender. It is'to prevent the tearing of these holes inthe slices that the present invention contemplates the use of a positive means for retardthe drum a suflicient amount'to prevent this tearing of the slices.

Before describing this retarding means, reference'will be had to Fig. l, in which there is shown a crank 54, secured to the shaft 13, and

connected by pitman 65, to the substance supporting table at 67. The substance supporting table provided with the usual feed plate 58, clamping bar 69, clamp operating grip 70, and suitable feeding mechanism not shown for feeding the plate 68 toward the knife, along the 56. The table 66 may be supported in any suitable manner, either by rollers, not shown, traveling on tracks 71, and a track in under the guide covering '72, as is more clearly illustrated in my co-pending application 547,409, or upon a pair of guide rods in a manner which is I quite well known.

It is obvious from the construction shown that the table has substantially'a harmonic motion and is not uniform. This movement of the table is desirable because of the smoothness of the reciprocation an the slowingdown of the table at the ends of its path of travel, so that reversal is, accomplished without 'i'arring of the table. Therefore, the rotation of the drum must be changed frorn a uniform movement to a movet which'corresponds to that of the table as the once is being revered and impaled upon the prongs; This is accomplished in the following manner. I

The drum is provided, with an arcuate extention-surface there-between, the bottom of whichacts-as a friction surface which is engaged which the pulleys 83, 8e, 85, and 86 are journailed.

The cable 76 passes over these pulleys i the manner illustrated best in Fig. l, and i on travels downwardly from each of the pulys 83 and 85. From the pulley 83, the cable ends downwardly toward the base of the maulleys '88, 89, and 90, journaled on the base 1.

. 3 and 1. The end of the cable is atto a spring 91; see Fig. 1, which spring turn is connected at 92 to the end of the table H (11 'U P3 The the: end of the cable 76 p-assesover the e S6, and down toward the base of the mawhere it is train d over the pulley 93 se a pulley 95, jcurnaled on the bottom of the bracket 18, and pulleys 96, 97, and 98 journaled on the base of the machine. This end-of the cable is secured at 99 to the end of the table 56. It is obvious that as the table is reciprocated, the cable '76 travels over the system of pulleys which has just been described and the run of the cable between the pulleys 84 and 85, see Fig. 1, is adapted to engage the friction surface 75 on the arcuate extension 73 of the drum, whenever the arcuate extension arrives at a position such that it will be engaged by the aforesaid run. In Fig. 1, the cable is shown engaging the friction surface '75, and it will be noted that it is at this time that the sliceis being engaged by the prongs 52 of the drum. The cable, of course, being directly actuated by the table, is traveling at the same rate of speed as the table. Therefore the run of the cable between pulleys and 84 is also traveling at the same rate of speed as the table. The friction surface '75, has a radius substantially equal to the distance between the axis of rotation of the shaft 19, and the adjacent surface of the slice deflector 53. The spring 91 imparts a tension to the cable and yet permits the cable to conform itself to the friction surface 75 while in engagement therewith.

If the slice is being formed as in Fig. 1, there are two forces to rotate the drum. One is the force which acts through the cam 33, spring 59,

and member 54, and the other is the cable '76. The cable 76 is acting at a considerable radius from the shaft 75 and exerts a considerable frictional force on the friction surface 75, thereby tending to cause that surface and the drum to rotate at the same speed as the table 66. Since the drum normally is rotating at a higher speed than the cable 76 when the cable engages the friction surface 75, the tendency of the cable 2'6 is to retard the movement of the drum although it will be understood that in a slicing machine where the conditions are changed and the drum should move faster than normally, the cable '76 will be arranged to increase the speed of rotation of the drum so that at all times, while the slice is being severed, the drum has a peripheral speed substantially equal to the speed of the table 66. The force of the cable '76 acting on the surface '75 is sufficient to compress the spring 59 and retard the movement of the drum.

With this arrangement, it is obvious that the slice is not subjected to the tearing action of the prongs while the slice is being severed. Such an arrangement will not only increase the efdciency of the machine but will increase the standard of the slicesrwhich are produced, for it is well understood that a slice which is torn will not present the same attractive appearance as a slice .which is not torn. I have also illustrated a novel arrangement of supporting the slice receiving plate 100. Thismeans comprises a bracket having two arms 101, having machined portions upon which the plate rests, and being provided with means for preventing lateral shifting of the plate. This latter means comprises an L shaped bracket 102, provided with a slot 103, through which a thumb screw 104 extends. The latter is screwed into the under side of the arm as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. A. finger 195, which extends upwardly and over the edge 106, of the plate 100, has a vertically extending portion 107,

extending above the surface of the plate for preventing lateral shifting of the paper placed on the slice receiver 100, as is clearly set forth in my application 547,409. This finger is secured to the L shaped bracket 105, by the screw 158. The

all.

tillcelver. contact portions of sufficient sharpness are pro- "vided for retaining the slice on the fly in proper relation thereto until discharged. The projections ,to any extent or mar the appearance thereof. Due to the nut erous projections on the fiy, no great impression is made on the slice and the bracket which carries the arms 101, is secured to the bracket 18.

The left hand portion of the plate 100, as viewed in 2, is arranged under the end of a cover plate 199, which covers the operating mechanism for the stacker as much as is possible, and together with the inverted cup-shaped member as, adequately protects the operating parts from grease and foreign material which might fall thereon.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 there is shown an arrangement of a slicing machine with a fly having relatively blunt restricted contact portions on the fingers thereof. Reference numerals in Figs. 6 to 10 are the same as for the corresponding parts shown in' Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The restricted contact portions 51 are substantially V shaped in cross section, and while tapered at a large angle from the point, present a relatively sharp edge which partially penetrates the slice or depresses the surface thereof to such an extent that the movement of the slice radially from the pivot of the fly is prevented. There- 'fore when the slice is thrown from the fly as in Fig. '7, there is more of a tendency for the same to fall uniformly on the slice receiving plate and less tendency forthe same to be thrown outwardly. Sometimes with a smooth surface on the fingers and without the projections shown, the slices may be thrown entirely on? the slice re- It is for this reason that these restricted should not be sharp enough to penetrate the slice slice does not show the effects of its engagement with the projections. Furthermore since the drum is continuously rotating and is rotating while the slice is being thrown ther from by the discharge fly, the projections as they engage the slice tend to stop the rotative movement of the slices about the shaft 19 and insure that the slices will be thrown directly onto the slice receiving plate 190, and not onto the guard 72 or the substance supporting table 66 as might otherwise happen if the slices were permitted to continue their movement about the shaft 19.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the ends 112 of the fingers 59 are turned inwardly toward the drum so that in the event that a slice carried by the prongs 52 has curled inwardly toward the surface of the drum 30, the ends of the fingers will engage in under the end of the slice and move the out sufficiently so that the slice will be carried over the outer surface of the fly rather than between the fly and the drum.

In Figs. 9 and 15), I have illustrated a modified form of prong 110, which comprises a relatively cylindrical base portion and blunt conical points. The effect is the same as with the restricted portions 51 shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The slices are designated by the reference numeral 111.

While I have shown the pulleys over which the cable 26 is trained, exposed to View, it will be understood that these pulleys as well as the cabias may be shielded to protect the same and also to prevent injury to anyone near the machine due to their coming in contact with moving portions of the cable. It will also be understood that instead of having the extension 73 at the top of the drum the same may be arranged at the bottom of the drum. Furthermore it is entirely within the scope of this invention to provide other means traveling at the same rate of speed as the table for driving the drum at the same rate of speed as the table during the cutting of the slice and the impaling of the slice on the prongs.

It is obvious that various changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited in my invention except as set forth hereinafter in the claims.

' Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

,1. In a. slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a reciprocating table for supporting and carrying a substance to be sliced into engagement with said knife, a conveyer having substance engaging prongs thereon adapted to engage and support a slice after it is severed from the substance, means for normally driving said conveyer in synchronisrn with said table but at a speed which varies from the speed of said table, said drive including means which yields to permit said conveyer to move at a speed different than imparted thereto by said driving means, and means for effecting the movement of said conveyer at the same speed as said table during the time the slice is being severed from the substance, comprising an element movable at the same speed as said table adapted to engage said conveyer and change its normal speed to such an extent that the speed of the prongs which engage the slice will be the same as the speed of the table.

2. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table, a rotating element carrying a plurality of slice engaging prongs, a knife adapted to sever slices from a substance on said table, means for directing the slices onto said prongs, and means for'driving the slice engaging portion of said prongs at substantially the same speed as said table while a slice is being out by said knife, comprising a cable actuated by said table and frictionally engaging a part on said conveyer moving at substantially the same speed as the speed of movement of the slice engaging portions of said prongs.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a table for presenting a substance to said knife to be sliced, a conveyer having a series of substance impaling means thereon for engaging the slices as they are severed, means for continuously driving both said table and said conveyer, said conveyer normally having a speed diiferent than the speed of said table, yielding means in the drive tosaid conveyer for permitting said conveyer to be driven at a speed different than that imparted thereto by its normal driving means, and means separate from said normal driving means for imparting to said conveyer a speed different than the speed imparted thereto by said normal driving means, said diiferent speed being the speed at which the slice is formed by the knife, and the conveyer being driven at this speed during the formation of the slice by the knife.

4. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table, a rotating knife, a crank and pitman connection for moving said table at a speed which is substantially harmonic so that said table moves at a non-uniform rate past the edge of said knife, of a conveyer having slice engaging and impaling members thereon, means for directing slices onto said members as the same are formed, meansincluding a'yielding connection for actuating the slice engaging portionsof saidmeinbers normally continuously at a uniform rate, and supplemental actuating means for said conveyer for driving the slice engaging portions of said members at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the slice as the slice is being severed and during the severing of the slice, said yielding means being yieldable to permit the last mentioned actuating means to act without disconnecting said first actuating means from said conveyer.

5. A device'as claimed in claim 4 in which the supplemental means comprises a. movable cable adapted to engage a means moving with said conveyer, and means for driving said cable at the desired speed to effect'the results specified.

6.- A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the supplemental means comprises a movable cable mounted so that a portion thereof is periodically adapted to engage apart moving with said conveyer to drive said conveyer, and in which said cable is trained over a suitable series of guiding elements and is connected to said table and actuated thereby.

7. In a slicing machine, the combination with a'rec'iprocating table of a rotating knife, means for moving said table past said knife at a nonuniform rate, a rotating drum, a plurality of ,changingjthe speedof said drum from the normal speed imparted thereto'by its driving means to eirect a'movement of the drum at a rate such that the slice engaging portions of said prongs when they engage the slice being severedare moving substantially at the same rate of speed as the slice being impaled thereon.

8. A device as claimed in claim '7 inwhich the means for changing the speed of the drum comprises acable actuated at the same speed as the table, and engaging a portion on said drum which always travels at substantially the same rate of speed as the slice engaging portions of said p n 9. A slicing machine comprising a reciprocating table, arotary knife, means for driving said table at a non-uniform rate, a drum carrying a plurality'of prongs adapted to engage the slice as it is severed by the knife during the reciprocation ofsaid table, means for driving said drum normally' at a uniformrateof speed to periodically return the same slice receiving prongs to slice receiving position at the same time with respect tothe movement of said table on successive complete reciprocations thereof, said means for driving said drumv including a yielding connection, an arcuate extension on said drum having a surface thereon traveling at substantially the same rate of speed as the sliceengaging portions oi" said prongs, a cable trained over suitable guides and having a run thereof intersecting the path of travel "of said surface on said extension, the opposite ends of said cable being attached to said table and actuated thereby so that said cable moves at the same speed as said table, and as a result when the'surfac'e on said arcuate extension engages said run of said cable, the speed of the drum is varied to make the drum and the slice en gaging portions of said prongs travel at substarr tially the same speed as the table while the slicis being formed and impaled upon said prongs, means for discharging slices from said prongs when the drum rotates to a predetermined position, and a slice receiver for receiving the slices as the same are formed, said means for discharging the slices comprising a plurality of fingers having a plurality of rows of restricted contact portions, said rows extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with knife, of a reciprocating table for supporting carrying a substance to be sliced into engagement with said knife, a conveyer havin substance engaging prongs thereon adapted to engage support a slice alter it is severed from the substance and during its severance from the substance, means for normally driving said conveyer in synchronism with said table to return said conveyer to a given position periodically but at a spec which diiiers from the speed of said table, and means other than said manual driving means, including a yielding drive to said conveyer from said table for efiecting the movement of said conveyer at the same speed as said table during the time the slice is being severed from the substance without changing the elapsed time between successive instants of return to said position.

11. In a slicing machine, the combination with a means for cutting successive slices from a substance, of a conveyer for engaging and conveying slices away from slicing position as said slices are formed, a discharge fly for discharging the slices fromthe conveyer by engagement with the slice, saidifly having restricted contact portions for engaging the slice, said restricted contact portions comprising a series of small relatively blunt conical points surrounded on all sides by relatively large spaces below the surfaces of said portions to prevent the slice from changing its relative position with respect to the fly while being conducted to a discharge position and for preventing the adherence of the slices to said fly.

12. In a slicing. machine, the combination with a slicing knife and a Work support movable relatively to each other to sever slices from a substance on said support, a slice conveyer mounted adjacent the cutting plane of said knife and adapted to receive slices as they are formed and deliver them to a slice discharge position, and

a reciprocating table, of a knife, means for moving said table past said knife at a non-uniform rate, a slice conveying means for conveying slices as they are formed to a discharge position, said conveying means having a slice engaging portion and retaining means for holding slices on that portion, means for directing slices onto said portion of said conveying means, means for actuating said conveying means continuously, a connection in the driving means to said conveying means for permitting an external force other than said driving means to actuate said drum at a rate of speed different than that at which the conveying means travels when actuated by said driving means, and means for engaging a portion moving with said conveying means for changing the speed of movement of said conveying means from the normal speed imparted thereto by its driving means to effect arnovement of the conveying means at a rate such that the slice engaging portion on said conveyer is moving substantially at the same rate of speed as the slice when the slice is being received thereby.

i l. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table, of a knife, means for mov-- ing said table past said knife at a non-uniform rate, a slice conveying means for conveying slices as they are formed to a discharge position, said conveying means having a slice engaging portion and retaining means for holding slices on that portion, means for directing slices onto said portion of said conveying means, means for actuating said conveying means continuously, a connection in the driving means to said conveying means for permitting an external force other than said driving means to actuate said drum at a rate of speed different than that at which the conveying means travels when actuated by said driving means, and means for engaging a portion moving with said conveying means for changing the speed of movement of said conveying means from the normal speed impartedthereto by its driving means to effect a movement of the conveying means at a rate such that the slice engaging portion on said conveyer is moving substantially at the same rate of speed as the slice when the slice 15. A slicing machine comprising a recipr0-- eating table, a rotary knife, means for driving said table at a non-uniform rate, a conveying means having a slice engaging and retaining portion thereon adapted to engage the slice as it is severed by the knife during the reciprocation of said table and convey the slice to a discharge position, means for driving said conveying means normally at a uniform rate of speed to periodically return the same slice receiving portion thereof to slice receiving position at the same time with respect to the movement of said table on successive complete reciprocations of the latter, said means for driving said conveying means including a yielding connection, a rigid portion moving with said conveying means having a surface thereon traveling at substantially the same rate of speed as the slice engaging portions of said conveying means and rigidly connected thereto, a cable mounted for movement along a predetermined path and having a run thereof intersecting the path of travel of said surface on said extension, the opposite ends of said cable being attached to said table and actuated thereby so that said cable moves at the same speed as said table and as a result when the surface on said arcuate extension engages said run of said cable, the speed of the drum is varied to make the drum and the slice engaging portions of said prongs travel at substantially the same speed as the table while the slice is being formed.

16. A slicing machine comprising a reciprocating table, a rotary knife, means for driving said table at a non-uniform rate, a drum carrying a plurality of prongs adapted to engage the slice as it is severed by the lmife during the reciprocation of said table, means for driving said drum normally at a uniform rate of speed to periodically return the same slice receiving prongs to slice receiving position at the same time with respect to the movement of said table on successive complete reciprocations thereof, said means for driving said drum including a yielding connection, an arcuate extension on said drum having a surface thereon traveling at substantially the same rate of speed as the slice engaging portions of said prongs, and a cable trained over suitable guides and having a run thereof intersecting the path of travel of said surface on said extension, the opposite ends of said cable being attached to said table and actuated thereby so that said cable moves at the same speed as said table, and as a result when the surface on said arcuate extension engages said run of said cable, the speed of the drum is varied to make the drum and the slice engaging portions of said prongs travel at substantially the same speed as the table while the slice is being formed and impaled upon said prongs.

17. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a substance support movable relative to said knife, a slice conveying means for conveying slices away from said knife as they are formed, a reciprocating cable moved in timed relation with the relative reciprocation of said knife and support, a projection on said conveying means for periodically engaging said cable as said conveying means moves along its path of travel whereby the conveying means is driven by said cable while said projection is in contact therewith, said projection being in contact with said cable only when the same is moving in one direction, and means for driving said conveying means when said projection is out of contact with said cable.

18. In a slicing machine, the combination with a reciprocating table, a rotating knife, a crank and pitman connection for moving said table at a speed which is substantially harmonic so that said table moves at a non-uniform rate past the edge of said knife, of a conveyer having slice engaging and impaling members thereon, means for directing slices onto said members as the same are formed, means including a yielding connection for actuating the slice engaging portions of said members normally continuously at a uniform rate, and supplemental actuating means for said conveyer for driving the slice engaging portions of said members at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the slice as the slice is being severed and during the severing of the slice, said yielding means being yieldable to permit the last mentioned actuating means to act without disconnecting said first actuating means from said conveyer, and said supplemental means comprising a movable cable adapted to frictionally engage means connected to said conveyer, and means for driving said cable to effect the aforesaid results.

19, In a slicingmachine, the combination with a slicing knife and a substance support movable relative to each other, a slice conveying means arranged adjacent to the cutting plane of said knife to receive the slices as they are formed and carry them to a discharge position, a driving means for actuating said conveying means and including a connection which permits movement of said conveyer at a speed which is different than the speed of movement imparted thereto by said driving means Whenever a force is applied to said conveyer to drive said conveyer at a different speed than the same is driven by said driving means, an element actuated in timed relation to the relative movement of said knife and support for actuating the slice receiving portion of said conveying means at the speed of relative reciprocation between said knife and support but being normally inoperative to drive said conveying means, and means connected to the substance support and adapted for engagement with the element for rendering said element operable during the slicing of a substance on said support for temporarily driving said conveying means at a speed independent of the speed of movement of said first mentioned driving means for said conveyer.

20. In a slicing machine, the combination with a table and a knife movable relative to each other, a slice conveyer for conveying the slices away from the knife after they are formed thereby to a discharge position, having slice engaging means thereon, means for normally driving said conveying means at a predetermined rate including a yielding driving element, and additional driving means other than said normal driving means connected to the table and adapted for engagement with a part or the conveyer for driving the slice engaging means on the conveyer at a speed substantially equal to the speed of relative movement of said knife and table during the formation of the slice without disconnecting the drive to said conveying means from said normal driving means, whereby said slice engaging means Will move at the same speed as the slice being formed during the slicing of the substance independently of the speed of movement of said conveying means when driven solely by said driving means.

WlLI-IELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL. 

